Lancaster City 1-1 Scarborough Athletic

Matthew Hartley

Lancaster City were left frustrated as they missed a host of chances in the first half and had to share the spoils with Scarborough Athletic.

Dolly Blues captain Neil Marshall gave the home side a 16th-minute lead after a cross was flicked on and he nodded home from close range.

The visitors hit back in the second half through centre back Dean Lisles with City failing to clear their lines.

After a cagey opening 10 minutes from the two sides, City took the lead when Marshall found himself unmarked in the six-yard box and he made no mistake as he powered his header past a helpless Max Dearnley in the Scarborough goal.

Craig Carney's effort from distance early on forced the visitors’ keeper into a smart save as it swerved viciously before reaching the net.

Jacob Gregory threatened throughout the first half and almost doubled City's lead when he blocked the keeper’s clearance but the ball trickled inches wide of the open goal.

The left-winger went close again on 23 minutes after evading several challenges, his effort from the edge of the box scraped the left-hand post and went wide with the ‘keeper well beaten.

Just a couple of minutes later City had a strong penalty claim waved away by the referee, Gregory once again was in the thick of the action as he was flattened by Scarborough keeper Dearnley when he went up for a header.

Phil Brown’s side were left ruing a catalogue of missed chances in the first half when the only attack of note from the visitors provided them with an equaliser.

Defender Liles pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Lancaster box and planted his powerful effort into the bottom left corner of Dave Rodgerson’s goal in the 59th minute.

The home side continued to dominate in the second half and had chances to take all three points, Bobby Langford dragged his effort wide from 18 yards out following a swift counter-attacking move by Lancaster.

Gavin Clark was inches away from giving Lancaster a late lead on 87 minutes, after a series of blocked efforts in the Scarborough box the defender poked wide from six yards out with the goal gaping but it wasn’t to be.